HONORS:JoeBurns reported the subcommittee had
denied one petition for an independent major on the grounds it lacked coherence
as a program, and that Associate Dean Sarr had been asked to report back to the
student.

Joe Burns reported briefly that
the subcommittee continued to work on possible recommendations addressing the
issue of grade compression including

making the grade distributions within a course and
comparisons to other sections visible to the faculty member,

developing means for defining and indicating on the
transcript the number of difficult courses a student had taken,

and recommending course grade averages.

Michael Graf asked if the
subcommittee had discovered how other schools were dealing with grade inflation
or compression. Dean Quinn responded that inquiries had been made and were part
of the original, lengthy report which he would distribute to the new members of
the EPC.

Joe Burns also asked for the
sense of the EPC on consulting with the Departmental Honors Programs concerning
this issue.

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS:David Quigley presented the subcommittee’s
report on the proposal to found an Interdisciplinary Minor in Catholic Studies
praising the work of Mary Ann Hinsdale and J. Robert Barth, S.J. on this issue
Noting that BC was “behind the curve” as several other schools had such
programs, he added that the minor would provide an undergraduate academic
compliment to BC’s Church in the 21st Century initiative.

Does the proposal have support from
faculty in either Political Science or Philosophy?

What is the degree and nature of student
interest?

Why are the clusters of courses uneven in
number?

Does the proposed program possess
sufficient depth and intensity?

Clare
Dunsford, thanking David for his tremendous work on this report, stated her
concerns that the draft syllabus for an introductory course focused on contemporary
issues, was dominated by a cultural studies model and lacked an historical
awareness. Dean Quinn asked if the introductory course would change depending
on the faculty member teaching it.

Tom McGuinness
asked about the proposal’s mention of a now defunct faculty seminar, about
graduate student interests, and about cooperation with the Jesuit Institute’s
various seminars. Quigley reported that the chair of Theology, Kenneth Himes,
O.F.M., had been queried and responded it fit well with the department’s
interest in the faith and culture nexus.

Paul
Davidovits asked if this program would give students literacy in Catholicism.
Catherine Schneider noted that the introductory course was not doctrinal hence
would not address that issue. Dean Quinn asked if the students should take
Introduction to Catholicism before entering the minor. Quigley noted that the
programs at some schools used a more narrowly doctrinal approach adding that
there was little interest at registration in such programs. Michael Graf noted
that this proposal offered a broader approach but asked if it might be too
broad.

Joe Burns
stated that the proposed program followed the cultural studies model, appeared
issue based and might create heat without light. Clare Dunsford remarked that
this proposal grew out of faculty interest and admitted that the issues
involved could be quite contentious within the BC community. Barbara Viechnicki
stated that contention was very Catholic. Kelly Treseler added that students
were certainly interested in studying contentious issues such as sexual
orientation within the context of Catholicism.

Clare Dunsford
asked if this minor might be of interest precisely because of contentious
issues such as the clergy sexual abuse issue. Tom McGuinness warned that
student victims would not be ready at this age to undertake an academic study
of those events. David Quigley responded that the intention of the proposed
program was catholic studies with a small “c” and had been designed on the
model of American Studies Programs which had begun in contentious times but had
become mainstream academic programs.

Dean Quinn
asked what advisors would recommend to students with interest but no prior
knowledge. David Quigley noted that the strength of this proposal lay in the
strength of the faculty interested in participating adding that, given that
strength, the students would be very well advised. Dean Quinn repeated
Quigley’s statement that the proposal was supported by excellent faculty and
called for a motion on the proposal for an Interdisciplinary Minor in Catholic
Studies be approved with advice to distill the course clusters listed and to
pay attention to advising students. David Quigley so moved; the motion was
seconded by Paul Davidovits. A vote in favor of the motion was unanimous.

Dean Quinn
thanked the subcommittee and especially David Quigley for his work on this
proposal.